The Western Australian Opposition is calling for a review of mental health funding following the weekend attacks on two nurses at Perth's Swan Districts Hospital.A 23-year-old man will appear in court today on grievous bodily harm and assault charges in connection with serious injuries suffered by a nurse and a male social worker.
The Opposition's health spokesman, Mike Board, says funding for mental health services should be increased to 10 per cent of the total health budget, from its current level of 6 per cent.
He says he has received many complaints about security and the safety of mental health workers. "This is a tragedy that's happened.
It should be a reminder to the Government, a wake up call that this area needs desperately to be resourced," Mr Board said. "We need to make sure that we don't cut the mental health budget anymore, that we restore some of the funding that should be there."
Health Minister Jim McGinty has declined to comment.
By Implementation 8 March 2004
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